Leeds United owner plans to sell club amid legal feud with insurer

His 200+ day league ban may be lifted soon, but this football club owner still wants to sell amid an ongoing lawsuit with an insurance ex-sponsor

Insurance News

By Louie Bacani


Even if his league ban is set to be withdrawn, embattled Leeds United chairman Massimo Cellino is planning to sell the football club, which remains embroiled in a legal dispute with a former sponsor.
 
Cellino has reiterated his plan to sell Leeds United as the football club continues to face a lawsuit filed by former shirt sponsor Enterprise Insurance.
 
The insurer has taken legal action against the club over an alleged breach of contract, claiming a sum in excess of £1 million, The Yorkshire Evening Post reported.
 
According to the report, the case will be heard in Manchester in September, a few months after the football club secured a three-year shirt sponsorship deal with online casino firm 32Red.
 
Cellino, who acquired a majority share in Leeds in 2014, also wants to quit the club despite the Football League’s recent announcement that his ban for over 220 days will be lifted.
 
The league’s governing body suspended Cellino last year after he was convicted for tax fraud in Italy. It was announced last week, however, that his ban will be overturned following his acquittal in the court case. 
 
Despite this news, Cellino insisted that he intends to leave the football club as he is feeling “hurt” and “confused.”
 
“I've had enough. It's better to walk out, not because I'm dishonest but because I'm tired and hurt and lonely,” Cellino told The Times.
 
'Why did they disqualify me when they knew the truth? I don't want to complain because I'm a foreigner but I'm lost. I have no happiness anymore and don't know if I have the enthusiasm for the next season,” he added.
 
Cellino said has “no choice but to run it” if the football club does not attract a buyer.
 

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